Auction 309-320 - Great Britain 1840–1841 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

1853, 1 d red, plate 169, lettered BE-BF, die I, alphabet II, imperf. pair, used in combination on cover with 1854 1 d red, plate 167, lettered JD and JE, perf 16, die I, alphabet II, paying up to 2 ounces, from London sent locally, dated 4 April 1854, the earliest recorded combination usage of a 4d rate, BE cut into side and both have creases, cover has heavy vertical crease with tears top and bottom, soiled, very rare example, less than 30 perf/imperf red combination examples recorded. rnReference: "Mixed-Franking Covers", by R.C. Simpson & K. Louis, MJ Publications, 2020, page 73. 

Info: The lower right corner of the perforated stamp JE has been added.